Did you really go to NZ if you didn't visit the hobbit movie set? I highly doubt it... It's about 75 NZ dollars, but you get a standard guided tour by people who are very passionate about it and a free drink at the green dragon Inn! It's fascinating to see the amount of work Peter Jackson put in to this set to make it as authentic tic as possible. It's about an hour tour and if you go in the off season, less people will be there and the earlier tours mean even less people, so it will be a better experience. I only wish they gave you a bit more time to enjoy your drinking relax at the best Inn in middle Earth. read more

This place was awesome! We booked a tour that took us here and to the glow worm caves. Our tour included lunch buffet and a beer at the Green Dragon. I haven't seen the movies but I still had a great time. The area is so beautiful and they do their very best on keeping the set just how it looked like in the movie. You will see ground keepers wandering around adding fresh flowers or cleaning parts of the set. There was a chance of rain while we were on tour and they provided us with umbrellas which was nice. If you are staying in Auckland I suggest finding a tour that will take you here and to other nearby attractions as it is 2.5hr away from CBD. read more

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The food at the Shire's Rest was pretty darn good & saved me because I didn't eat at my hotel because everything was closed when I left. So I was thankful for the yummy eggs Benedict. Tickets for the tour were easy to purchase online and it's worth going to see! You do have to drive a ways to get out there but it's not too terrible. The Alexander farm is GORGEOUS! Cannot say enough good things about this experience read more

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Fantastic place if you're a Hobbit fan, but the food and beverages are actually tasty too! I loved the non-alcoholic ginger beer. Wish I could find something like that where I live, but it's only available locally and made by Good George's in Hamilton. The kind I've tried in the US just doesn't come close. The meat pies are yummy too, with solid firm crusts. Too bad you can only visit the Green Dragon after taking a tour! read more

This is by far the biggest highlight of my whole trip to New Zealand. If you've read the books or seen the movies Hobbiton is sure to blow you away. The tour will cost you $75, runs for 2 hours and is worth every cent. Our guide was absolutely fabulous. Knowledgable, charismatic, well spoken and informative giving us lots of detail on the location and owners of the property, how it was found and how it was built. I was giddy with excitement the whole time and took a billion photos while I was there. The countryside is absolutely stunning and green and the details on the set are incredibly impressive. Walking through different parts of the set will have you transported into the books or films and you can easily imagine the characters around you. You will finish the tour in the Green Dragon, the lovely pub that you may remember, and you'll also get to sample an ale, cider or non-alcoholic ginger beer as part of the tour cost that you cannot get anywhere else in the world. I cannot recommend this tour enough and it is definitely worth going our of your way for. read more

Awesome! Free Hobbit beers at the end in the Hobbits Pub! Gift shop and restaurant well run, not over priced, parking easy. We had an absolutely brilliant day out, would highly recommend! read more

Had a stout and a lager by the fireplace. Brilliant surroundings near the end of a really interesting tour. We were afraid there wouldn't be food and had grabbed something beforehand and it proved fortunate. There were small snacks but little time with pictures to take and toilet breaks. We picked a perfect day weather wise and as it is no longer school hols and mid winter it was busy but not unpleasantly so. Excellent!! read more

Hobbiton - Sweet muffin - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

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Anna and Bee were incredible tour guides. They did a great job of giving a lot of context and history to the place and in particular Bee's end of night "memory selfie" bit was my favorite part--really focusing on the experience and being able to remember how incredible it all was. By the end of the night after wandering around the shire and having drinks and dinner with everyone, our group felt like a big family. It was an amazing experience. I would 10000% recommend doing the evening banquet. It's the best way to get the best experience. Other stuff... Their shire's rest cafe closed at 3pm. The gift shop had very little to interest in it.. lots of really hokey plasticky things. I heard the gift shop at the Weta Cave is better? We went on a Thursday night in early May and our banquet was sold out. 50 people. But it really doesn't feel like it's that many since you're split up into groups for the walk and the dinner. Just make sure you sort of figure out who you want to sit with at dinner and also be aware that there isn't enough seating in Green Dragon really for everyone during the drinks before dinner. I had gotten there first with the first group and gave up my chair by the fire for someone else who came in later about half way through. Just be polite. read more

Cute, and probably awesome if you're a big fan of lotr, but didn't need to be 2 hours and it's in my opinion overpriced for what it is...you just walk through and look at differently styled hobbit holes. None of them are actually built out inside so no ability to really go into and experience anything, and tours move forward regardless of rain or shine and on our day it was thunderstorming, which really made the outdoors walking experience pretty sad. read more

OK so I'll be the first to admit: I've never seen any of the LOTR or hobbit movies. I know what you're thinking: then why travel hours to see the movie set? Honestly, look at the photos I've posted. It is amazingly serene and purely beautiful at this spot! You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this experience. The tours are so well done and the grounds are maintained impeccably. Our tour guide, Sarah, gave us some pretty interesting information that was all behind the scenes and focused on both info about the plot and the difficulties filming the movie. The movie set is located in part of this massive farm owned by a family with a bajillion sheep. There are rolling hills everywhere and the sky is the prettiest blue your ever seen! I really enjoyed this spot for the scenery and I know that my family members that had seen the movies were totally happy with our decision to visit this place also! read more

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You do not have to like the movies or books to enjoy this beautiful picturesque tour! You walk around and view about 44 hobbit holes and learn some interesting facts about the movie. The ride to Hobbiton is riddled with rolling hills. So much natural beauty. It will drop your jaw. You also get a free alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage at the end of the tour! read more

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I was lucky enough to visit Hobbiton on my recent visit to New Zealand. What an experience! We had a great driver - who was a wealth of knowledge regarding the movies as well as a great guide. We got quite lucky with the weather, as it was supposed to rain -but we had blue skies and sun! The site itself is beautiful! It was quite the experience to go into the homes, have your picture taken in the doors and to explore the green dragon! Very much worth the cost of the tour! Loved the added bonus of having a glass of a beverage of your choice at the green dragon! If you have the opportunity - GO. It gives you the hobbit experience! read more

I cannot say enough WONDERFUL things about our experience here. I was not thrilled my husband had us pay the extra money for the night tour with dinner...but I will say it was wroth every penny. We had a total blast, I would HIGHLY suggest doing the night tour with dinner. If you are a fan enough to visit, you should get this experience too. read more

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The best beef pie in ALL of New Zealand. The beef was marinated in beer and served in a flakey crust! Also, the cider was amazing, the ale tastes like dirt! read more

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This stunningly beautiful location is only accessible on a tour - as the owners still live there - and is plagued by camera toting tourists. Honestly, how many selfies DO you need?? The scenery is amazing, and the Hobbit village truly picturesque but you have to move at everyone else's pace, which in our case was painfully slow due to the amount of selfies being taken at every stop. Be warned, we were told this is a common occurrence! Whilst I understand the necessity for organising visitors, I did feel like I was on a conveyer belt and didn't get the chance to explore and enjoy at my own pace. It is expensive for what you get but would say it's still worth a visit. read more

Hobbiton is a bit of a bore. It's just a bunch of wall facades up against a hillside. Kind of boring and uneventful. Unless you are a hobbit geek, I would suggest other trips to Taupo, or Rotorua spa and pools. Beautiful views of the countryside and Alexander's farms. That's about what ya get. read more

LOVE THIS place. Everyone was so nice . We had a great tour guide. Wish I could remember his name . Totally funny & friendly! Just like a Hobbit should be. He was full of knowledge & fun facts about the movie & the property we were touring . They even handed out sturdy golf umbrellas when it started to sprinkle. Well Done! read more

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As huge nerds/LoTR fans, my husband and I could not pass up the opportunity to visit Hobbiton while in New Zealand and it did not disappoint! We started out by having a quick bite at Shire's Rest and the food was good, service was fast, and prices were reasonable. We then took the bus from Shire's Rest to Hobbiton (the movie set where all the scenes in The Shire were shot). The bus ride was short (approximately 10 minutes) but the guide was awesome! Then we started our 2-3 hour walking tour through The Shire and it was amazing! We lucked out and had great weather and a very good tour guide (William). He explained a lot about how the set was chosen and how the movie was made- which was very cool! We got to go at a nice slow pace and take a lot of pictures, but definitely wear some comfortable shoes for walking! We ended our tour by getting a complimentary brew for the brave and true at the Green Dragon Inn! We also got a beef and ale pie which was tasty! I highly recommend a visit to Hobbiton for all Lord of the Rings/ Hobbit fans, and even if you're not a fan the scenery is beautiful! read more

So awesome! Even the bus ride there was amazing! Our bus driver- Damion (hope I spelled that right) is the best! He kept us enterained on the bus the whole way by telling us about New Zealand, its culture, its people, its history! It was awesome because often times you go somewhere and you see things, but you never get to know what the place is all about. The hobbiton set was fantastic! the lunch provided was also really delicious! read more

Absolutely wonderful! The tour guide, Claire was a sheer delight and so many cute hobbit holes. Great free beer and pies. The kitty at Green Dragon named Pickles, was so adorable. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. We'll have to seek out other LOTR and Hobbit places. read more

Hobbiton - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

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Great 2 hour tour of the hobbit movie set. Your tour guide tells you about the behind the scenes of the making of this movie and enough time to take a lot of pictures. At the end of the tour, you get (1) complimentary drink (beer, cider, non alcoholic drink). I highly recommend to go at least once if you're visiting this country. read more

Hobbiton - Cannot enter through some of the hobbit houses. - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

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Everything was really pretty and they were knowledgeable on some behind the scenes facts, but I would rate it a 3/5. In fairness, I'm not a LOTR nerd by any means. I am very impressed with Sir Peter Jackson's (the director) attention to detail. It does look like they are adding some new attractions there, so that is something to look forward to. I would also rate the food in the cafe as okay. read more

Amazing. I'm not even a LOTR fan and I had a great time. Even in a drought they kept the grass green and everything looked dreamy and fantastic. They have the tours running like a well oiled machine and our guide Kelsey was great. Don't hesitate based on the price--everything in NZ is expensive and this is something you shouldn't miss. read more

Funtastic! Hobbiton surpassed all expectations. The guide had friends who were hobbits on the set when he was in 7 grade so the tour was full of unheard of stories. The set represents a surreal interplay of surpassing Beauty of nature and human ingenuity and of course Peter Jackson's perfection quest. Definitely worth it. read more

Hobbiton itself is magical. They definitely picked the perfect locations for each hobbit hole, garden, clothes line, and the walk across the bridge to the Green Dragon Inn was just stunning. For fans of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, this place is almost a dream come true. For me, I nearly teared up a few times just experiencing the reality of things I've only seen on screen. I would recommend getting there quite a bit before your tour time, or calling to see how their day is looking. We had arrived about 30-45 minutes before our tour, thinking that was plenty of time. After all, their recommended time was 15 minutes prior. Unfortunately, due to the ridiculously long lines at the check-in area, we actually missed our tour and had to be bumped to a tour time that was 1.5 hours later. Fortunately, we didn't have to rush anywhere else, so we were able to wait. The crowd situation was obviously not their fault, but I do believe that they could have managed it and communicated the situation a little better. I can only imagine the number of people that most likely wouldn't have been able to absorb the much-delayed timeline in their travel itinerary. You also lose the magic a little bit when you see a huge clump of people ahead of you, and another huge clump behind you trying to edge your group out because they're overexcited about Bag End and left their guide behind to get pictures. And if you have really annoying people in your tour group. If I ever find myself here again, I might splurge and opt for a private tour and add on the Marquee Festive Feast. The entire tour is 2 hours, including the short bus ride there and back. And ours was almost to the minute. It is entirely walking, with some hilly sections. You then get rewarded with a cold beer at the Green Dragon Inn. You may need to chug your beverage of choice if you happen to be running behind. It was definitely worth the money, time, and effort to do this tour, though. In spite of the challenges we ran into, looking through the pictures and recalling the feelings remind us yet again that it was indeed worth all of it. read more

5 stars!! If you are a LOTR geek, you want this, plain and simple. Really, you want this. End of discussion.

It's cute. Five star tour for twenty dollars, thirty with the beer, which is a nice finish. But 79? No, absolutely not worth that. It speaks to how little New Zealand has going on the this place is so packed. Even if you're EXTREMELY into the movies there is still little substance here. It's some pretty flowers and painted doors on a sheep farm. And then the trip out, it's going to be your entire day! By the time you realize you're getting bilked, you're too invested to back out. Everything is well presented and it's a good tour, but it's just far too expensive for what you get. Sheer profiteering. read more

I have two kids ages 11 and 13 we looked at the options and found we could have a private tour for not much more that it would have cost to do the group tour and it included lunch and we could park at the actual site versus having to take a 20 minute bus ride from Matamata. We met our tour guide Erik little did we know we hit the jackpot. Erik has been giving tours since they started, he is 90 years old going on 60 and is a wealth of knowledge about he filming, about New Zealand and of course about the building of the sets (twice). Our tour was about 4 hours and we got to get photos in places you normally would not have access to and was worth every penny. Erik is delightful and really made our experience unique read more

We looked at various options to tour the movie set and we chose to do the dinner tour. What a blast! Not only did we get to eat at the Green Dragon, we also were able to tour Hobbiton with a smaller, controlled group. We were able to spend plenty of time viewing and photographing the various Hobbit Holes and other features of the Shire. Our guide was River, and she was a hoot. She shared with us very detailed behind-the-scenes accounts of the filming of the LOTR and Hobbit movies. What was really cool was that she is clearly as much of a fan as everyone on the tour, and she was enthusiastic and proud to share LOTR filming details with us. Dinner was pretty good with a wide variety of foods (salmon, stew, lamb, chicken, veggies, etc.) at our table. Dessert was even better--definitely try the berry tarts and the pavlova. This tour is a must for any LOTR fan, and I would suspect that any movie buff in general would enjoy it. It far exceeded my expectations and was worth every penny. read more

his tour turned out to be a good experience. The details outside of each Hobbit house was great. For people who loved the movies, they'll love this tour. Even though the houses were facades & a tree was fake, it was still impressive. We did stop in the Green Dragon pub for a cup of cider and some pastries. Although we were reluctant to go, we are glad we did. Definitely recommend. read more

This was the second time for us visiting Hobbiton and it was just as enjoyable as the first time ,if not more so. Even though we could remember some of what our guide would tell us next it was still as interesting and going around Hobbiton equally so. The location if you drive yourself to where the tour starts is easy enough to find coming from either Cambridge or Matamata, but I must admit that we actually found coming from Cambridge easier the last time we came than via Matamata this time. There is also tours you can join from Matamata , Auckland or Rotorua. Anyway as we all know by now a bus takes you down to the start of the tour which is lead by one of their friendly very informative guides. Once off the bus and being led through the area , you are told little pieces of information about the movie and some of the camera trickery they used in making the movie and have lots of time to take photos. A very good thing I found is the guides are not very pushy about everyone keeping together....unlike some tours where everyone is herded along in one clump. This is very relaxed, just as it should be. On getting to the Green Dragon Inn you are invited to sample either a cider or ginger beer. I opted for the cider much to my satisfaction. Inside the inn is a homely kind of place...warm and welcoming, of course there was a fire going and the cat asleep on the chair is a nice touch!!!! After the inn you head past the lake and so to the bus and end of this magical tour. At the Shires Rest , where you are finally dropped by the bus you can purchase memorabilia of your visit. Even more so when you are doing the tour if you could imagine yourself there amongst real live hobbits it would be even more magical. All in all a must do for any tourist or even local, weither have seen the movies or read the books or not. read more

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I was a little put off by the price of this place, but in the end it was more than worth it. It's a great tour, followed by some real farm stuff since it is a working sheep farm. You get a lot of context and information about the Peter Jackson movies, as well as a lot of stuff you probably wouldn't even read about online. There are a couple ways to go, but I think catching the bus from Matamata is the best option. Highly recommended for visitors to this area. read more

It's just like the movie! The Tour last about two hours and you cant back track. Some tour guides tell you more interesting trivia than others. Visit during spring summer or fall. It gets rainy during winter but still the place is amazing. The food there was great I could say better than the average restaurant. Our Tour included buffet lunch in the Hobbiton. It was a dream come true. Even if you aren't a big fan. Its cool to see it all in person. There is only One Hobbiton must see in NZ. read more

We purchased reservations through Viator where the hobbit movie tour said tickets were available so we woke up at 5 am to board a tour bus on a 12 hour excursion to take us to view the glow worm caves and then the hobbit houses. After our caves (which was finished by 10 am) we were told the the hobbit house didn't have a room for us on the tour. So because of that we had to remain on the bus for the remainder of the day wasting our vacation time with no compensation. read more

Got some free beers as part of the Hobbiton tour, and it was pretty good. I wish could have stayed longer to sample more beers, but we only had 15 minutes at this spot as part of the tour. read more

I was disappointed I wasn't allowed to touch or even open the door to Bilbo's home, I just wanted to go in for a second, look around, then maybe do a quick jobbie. read more

One of my favorite places when I visited New Zealand! Honestly this set is magical. We came before sunset and it just added to the beauty. We were taken on a short bus ride to the set. There are sooo many details around every hobbit hole, the set designers were most definitely perfectionists. From the doors, to fences, and little details that helped figure out the jobs of the hobbits. The staff also really knows the movies well and helped us recall all the memories of the scenes shot in the Shire. They are also very accommodating and well aware that everyone wants pictures so they wait for everyone to get their pictures and then move on. The set was so colorful and it was interesting to see how the scenes inside the holes were shot elsewhere, but totally gave the impression that they were inside the actual hobbit holes. At the end, we were taken into the Green Dragon inn and given complimentary drinks. The inn was nice and cozy with a fire place, the perfect way to end the tour. There is no way you can come to New Zealand and not check this place out!! read more

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Hobbiton is definitely worth seeing on your trip to New Zealand. We visited June 15th and took the 2:40pm tour. I was excited for months (even years) to see this place and had a great time. The tour seemed very rushed though and the tour guide behind our group with french braids who sounded local was passive aggressive and just plain rude to us and a few other people. It really snapped us out of the magical realm of Middle Earth and into a place that herds you through and operates for profit without too much care for the visitor experience. I worked in the tourism industry for years and have seen every type of tourist and do not understand what we did to deserve this behavior. We waited to get our photo because we were at the end of a large group. By the time it was our turn the tour guide behind us was pretty vicious and tried to tell us we didn't have time to take our photo. If I treated the tourists at any of the companies I worked for back home I wouldn't be offered employment again. It is so important to be positive and kind to create the best illusion possible to the lovely visitors who are the reason you have a job. After all, this isn't a theme park... it is Hobbiton and some people have waited a very, very long time and pay big money to come and see it. They deserve a second to take a photo. If you do not understand how magical this place is for everyone coming to visit then you don't deserve to be the one to show it to them. I give 3 stars because this guide really did change the overall experience a bit but it doesn't mean I would not recommend to go! I still had a good time :) read more

Yes its touristy. Yes, it's a drive to get there. But given you know it's all for tourists, it still manages to be magical and charming and worth the high price and effort to get there. If there is even a sliver of a child left in you, see this. read more

First thing first. I m not a fan of the original movies nor I like the current hobbit series. And I was dragged into going because I had to play tour guide for my cousin. We didn't book ahead and got there way before they opened and waited for a ticket for the first tour of the day. But I would recommend you to book before you go. They can get very busy. The whole set is fair bit of a distance away from the cafe and the ticketing office/souvenir shop. So they will transport you on a bus and drive through some of the most scenic farmlands in the northland. Once you get off the bus, they are free umbrellas if you need one. The weather can change quite quickly during the winter months. Ok, I won't say much about what's inside the set so no spoiler alert. You might think the 75 dollars ticket charge is a bit much, but they do give you a complimentary drink in the pub at the end of the tour. :-) overall I enjoyed the experience. And it is one of the most iconic places to visit in NZ. read more

Hobbiton - Clothes line and the little hobbit hole. - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO